ASSEMBLY, No. 1424

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 1996

 

 

By Assemblyman DALTON

 

 

An Act requiring municipalities and State legislators to be notified when municipalities within their legislative districts are eligible for State grants or benefits and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. In addition to all other notification requirements imposed by law, each State department, agency and commission which awards State grant funds or benefits to municipalities shall within the first 30 days of each State fiscal year send by certified mail a notice setting forth the availability of those State funds or benefits to those municipalities which may be eligible in the State for such State funds or benefits. A duplicate notice shall be sent at the same time by regular mail to the legislative office of the State legislators representing those municipalities. The mailed notices shall include:

    a. the names of the grant programs that have funds available;

    b. the purpose for which the grant program funds shall be used;

    c. the amount of money in the grant program;

    d. the particular municipalities which may apply for funding under the grant program;

    e. the qualifications an applicant must meet in order to be considered for the grant program;

    f. the procedure for eligible entities to apply for grant funds;

    g. the address of the division, office or official receiving the application;

    h. the deadline by which applications must be submitted to that division, office or official; and

    i. the date by which applicants shall be notified whether they will receive funds under the grant program.

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.


STATEMENT

 

    This bill requires municipalities and the State legislators who represent them to be notified when municipalities within their legislative districts are eligible for State grants or benefits.

    Specifically, in addition to all other notification requirements imposed by law, each State department, agency and commission which awards State grant funds or benefits to municipalities must annually send by certified mail to each municipality and by regular mail to the State legislators who represent them a notice setting forth the availability of those State funds or benefits to the municipalities which may be eligible in each legislator's district for such State funds or benefits. The mailed notice shall include:

    a. the names of the grant programs that have funds available;

    b. the purpose for which the grant program funds shall be used;

    c. the amount of money in the grant program;

    d. the particular municipalities which may apply for funding under the grant program;

    e. the qualifications an applicant must meet in order to be considered for the grant program;

    f. the procedure for eligible entities to apply for grant funds;

    g. the address of the division, office or official receiving the application;

    h. the deadline by which applications must be submitted to that division, office or official; and

    i. the date by which applicants shall be notified whether they will receive funds under the grant program.

    The sponsor believes this bill will establish a more coordinated effort by the State in alerting municipalities and their State legislators to the programs and benefits for which they can apply and become eligible.

 

 

 

Requires municipalities and State legislators to be notified when municipalities within their legislative districts may be eligible for State grants or benefits.